No other female singer has provoked such worldwide fascination as Maria Callas. This musical documentary uses Puccini's Tosca—an opera closely identified with Callas—as a framework for an examination of her life and career. According to her friend Franco Zeffirelli (who designed the 1965 production excerpted here), the singer saw her former lover, Greek billionaire Aristotle Onassis, in the role of Tosca's tormentor, Baron Scarpia. Selections include "Tre sbirri ... Una carrozza" (Act I; Tito Gobbi as Scarpia); "Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore" (Act II); and "E qual via scegliete?" (Act II). Colleagues like Plácido Domingo and Grace Bumbry also share their memories of the great dramatic soprano.

"Although Callas's career was relatively short, she became, through her dramatic flair, passionate singing and uncompromising musicianship, a legend in her own lifetime."—Opera Canada